162 
ance in the Irish princes to the English government, and their close 
adherence to their own Brehon laws. On this subject, he thus de- 
livers his opinion: “ This then Inote as a great defect in the 
« ciyill policy of this kingdom, in that for the space of 350 years, 
at least, after the conquest, the English laws were not commu- 
nicated to the Irish, nor the benefit and protection thereof allowed 
unto them, though they earnestly desired and sought the same. 
For as long as they were out of the protection of the lawe, so as 
every Englishman might oppresse, spoyle and kill them without 
controulment, how was it possible they shoulde bee other than 
out-lawes and enemies to the crown of England?”—* If the 
English magistrates would not rule them by the lawe which doth 
punish treason and murder and theft with death, but leave them 
to be ruled by their own lords and lawes, should they not em- 
brace their own Brehon lawe, which punisheth no offence but 
“« with a fine or ericke ?” * 
We have above seen, that, in the reign of Edward the Third, the 
Irish applied to be admitted to the benefit of the English laws. But 
so far was this reasonable request from being complied with, that, in 
the 36th year of the same reign, a law was passed in the parlia- 
ment, then held at Kilkenny, which made it high treason for one 
of English blood to intermarry with the Irish, to foster one of 
their children, or even to stand sponsor for one of them at baptism, 
To use an Irish name, to speak the Irish language, or to dress in 
the Irish apparel or fashion, was punishable by imprisonment. In 
this parliament, “ It was established and commanded, that the 
“ English, in all their controversies, should be ruled and governed 
“ by the common lawe of England ; and if any did submit himself 
* Discovery, &c. London edition, 1747. p. 119- 
